zoo med vs hagen vs coralife t5 ho 2 bulb light fixture

I just got a hagen fluval osaka 155 (41g) fr $65.00 but still need lighting and a canister filter.(more or likely will use my eheim)..
I don't know what light fixture to get, and which brand would be best..

the zoomed is t5 h.o. 2 bulb and has one power cord but each bulb can be turned off and on. it's $79.99
the hagan glo is t5 ho 2 bulb but has no buttons to turn off it has to be unplugged or on a timer. it's $109.99
then the coralife is t5 ho 2bulb and is 119.99 to 189.99 depending on where i go...

they all look to have single reflectors, so both bulbs would reflect from one reflector...

I have used hagen glo light fixtures before with out a problem..

never used zoomed any one use them are they any good?

or should i try to not mix and match, and make it look like i got a coplete hagen kit, and get a hagen glo fixture, minus the filter and just use the eheim?

I always favor whatever can be put on timers. The 2 bulb system with a plug for each bulb is what I suggest.

popebosephus wrote:

I always favor whatever can be put on timers. The 2 bulb system with a plug for each bulb is what I suggest.

they can all be put on timers. the zoomed ony had one plug but had 2 on/off switch(for each bulb.)...

I do have retro kit, that i could make work. by hanging to wood, then the wood to the lamp post.

I have an "oddysea" 216W 4 bulb t5ho setup from aquatraders...there is alot of old bad press about these having poor construction and catching fire (it was actually the metal halides) but I have been really pleased with it so far and it was only about $115 including 4 bulbs. They have made alot of improvements on them and the ballasts are more efficient than the old ones. They have separate buttons for each pair of bulbs as well as a timer. The bulbs they ship with are not the greatest but suffice. I have used the coralife bulbs (suck) and the zoo med bulbs (good) and plan on swapping all the bulbs eventually to the zoo med bulbs.

cool, thanks... I used the oddysea in the past and hated them good to know they have inproved... I use the coralife bulbs and like them.. but it was the 6,700k and the color max... i never used there 10,000k or antic... hagen i really like there life glo 6,700k . I have yet to try the zoomed bulbs...

i like the gisean(spelling?) mid day 6,000k very very nice bulb but cost a pretty penny.

i might just save up some more money so i have all hagen stuff.
the stand is hagen, the tank is hagen, and the filter is hagen... guess the light needs to be hagen too.